Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - June 17, 2010
From: Radcliff, KY
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identification of plant from wildflower mix in Radcliff KY
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I bought a wildflower mixture from local store; after planting, there is a 2 ft bush or plant with flowers that are yellow, and small like those on a cantaloupe, leaves that look like a watermelon, but the plant has spines along the underside of the leaf and on flower buds and flower backs. I threw the packet away so I was wondering what kind of plant I am growing? Thanks!ANSWER:
We never recommend purchasing mixes of seeds for this very reason; you have no idea what is going to come up. Something in that mix could be non-native or invasive, or both, and you would have introduced that plant to your area. Unfortunately, since you do not know if the plant is native, we can't hope to identify it without some more information. Please go to our Mr. Smarty Plants Plant Identification page for instructions on sending us pictures with descriptions. We can't guarantee that we will be able to identify it even then, but we will try.
More Plant Identification Questions
Differentiation between Amorpha roemeriana and A. fruticosa
April 25, 2006 - How do I differentiate Amorpha roemeriana and A. fruticosa? Thank you.
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
April 06, 2011 - I'm trying to figure out the name of a plant/shrub purchased a couple years ago. It was a shrub (about medium sized) with yellow blooms that smelled like lemon. I don't think it was lemon balm or le...
view the full question and answer
Identification of shrub with red berries in Kentucky
January 14, 2012 - I live in Laurel CO, KY. I am trying to identify a shrub/tree. The leaves are green and may turn reddish orange. There are huge pods of red berries hanging.
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
July 22, 2013 - I've lived at my apartment complex for a year now and this current spring/summer I noticed the grounds keeper leaving a fern like plant that is approx. 1-2 feet tall and approx. 1 foot wide. It's le...
view the full question and answer
Plant with stalk of purple berries
August 27, 2008 - I have a plant that just grows.large hollow purple stalk, purple berries in long clusters ,
grows very tall any thoughts.. it grows like a weed
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |